Salt removal spray device

ABSTRACT

A device for spraying water against a vehicle to remove harmful salt and chemicals deposited on the vehicle during use. A plurality of parallel spaced conduits rest on a surface beneath the vehicle and extend longitudinally therewith. The conduits are connected to a water header which in turn is connected to a supply of water. A pair of these conduits are located along the outer sides of the vehicle and a plurality of these conduits are located underneath the vehicle between the front and rear wheels. A plurality of spray holes are formed in the upper portions of the outer conduits at various angles for spraying water against the sides of the vehicle at various heights. A plurality of spray holes are formed in the upper portions of the inner conduits at various angles for spraying water in various directions against the underside portions of the vehicle.

United States Patent n91 Blosser .11 3,795,254 1 5-] Mar. 5, 1974 1 1 SALT REMOVALSPRAY DEVICE I76] Inventor: Nelson K. Blosser, PO. Box 327,

Bergholz, Ohio 43908 [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1972 [21 1 Appl. No.: 290,465 7 [52] U.S. Cl '134/123, 134/172, 134/199, 239/450 [51] Int. Cl. B605 3/04 [58] Field of Search..... 134/45, 123, 172, 100, 101, I 134/199; 239/207, 450

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,321,793 5/1967 Braunger 134/45 X 2,749,180 6/1956 Andrews 239/450 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,382,876 11/1964 France 239/450 175,652 3/1935 Switzerland 134/199 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Bleutgc 57 ABSTRACT A device for spraying water against a vehicle to remove harmful salt and chemicals deposited on the vehicle during use. A plurality of parallel spaced conduits rest on a surface beneath the vehicle and extend longitudinally therewith. The conduits are connected to a water header which in turn is connected to a sup ply of water. A pair of these conduits are located along the outer sides of the vehicle and a plurality of these conduits are located underneath the vehicle between the front and rear wheels. A plurality of spray holes are formed in the upper portions of the outer conduits at various angles for spraying water against the sides of the vehicle at various heights. A plurality of spray holes are formed in the upper portions of the inner conduits at various angles for spraying water in 1 various directions against the underside portions of the vehicle.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 Y SALTR'EMOVAL SPRAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Ths invention relates to liquid spray devices and in particular to water spray devices for salt removal from vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a spray device placed upon the floor of a garage or the like having a plurality of spaced conduits which direct sprays of water at various angles against a vehicle located between the conduits to remove road 'saIt there from.

2. Description of the Prior Art 1 The rusting, corrosion and rapid deterioration of vehicle bodies due to salt and other harmful chemicals and impurities is a major problem to most vehicle owners. This problem is especially serious in those areas which have large amounts of snowfall for which salt is' spread on the roadways to melt the snow. The problem also is serious in coastal areas adjacent an ocean. The salt formsa concentrated salt solution with the melting snow and rain whichis splashed upon and flows to various partsof the -,vehicle where it corrodes the ve-,

hicle body and parts thereof.

These salt solutions deposit a layer 'or film of salt on removal spray device which directs a plurality of streams of water at various angles against both the exterior and under carriage portion of a vehicle; providing a salt removal spray device which is constructed of flexible hose sections joined together at one end and adapted for connection to a water faucet for spraying a sufficient quantity of water on a vehicle to remove salt and impurities therefrom; providing a salt removal spray device which can be easily and conveniently placed upon the floor ofa garage and remain inoperating position throughout the winter months without interfering with normal use of the garage, and which is operated easily by turning on and offa usual water faucet; providing a salt removal spray device which has no moving parts which are subject'to breakage and maintenance, and which requires only an existing supply of water and drain facilities to operate; providing a salt removal spray device which can. be operated daily at a minimum cost and with a minimum amount of time and the vehicle when the water evaporates, which continues to attack the metal parts'of the vehicle. This salt film later mixes with water when applied to the vehicle to form another salt "solution which can flow to other parts of the vehicle unless sufficient water is applied to effectively reduce the concentration of the salt so lu tion. I

The corrosion and rusting of vehicle bodies also is a problem in areas having industries which emit chemicals and other waste impurities into the air. These impurities form harmful solutions when mixed with rain water which corrodes vehiclebodies.

Various means are employed to resist and retard this corrosion of vehicle bodies. The body underportions are coated with heavy protective coatings of rust inhibiting material in an attempt to coat and fillthe recessed areasbeneaththe. vehicle where the harmful'solutions collect and begin the initial rusting of the vehicle.

Frequent washing of a vehicle in commercial car washes, or at the owner's home or place of business, is

an effective means of removing such harmful deposits and to reduce the rust and corrosion problem. Such re-' peated washings, however, are-time-comsuming and expensive, and they should be done'alrnost daily to effectively retard the corrosion process. Usual washings do not reach those areas beneath the vehicle,such as inside the fenders and adjacent the frame, where rust first starts to occur, due to their inaccessibility to such washings. I

A need thus has existed for a spray device for removing salt and other harmful impurities from the external exposed areas of a vehicle as well as the underneath and concealed areas of a vehicle, which spray device can be used in a minimum amount of time and at a low cost enabling the vehicle to be sprayed daily, if desired, and which spray device is inexpensive and easy to install to enable any vehicle owner to purchase and install the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include'providing a salt effort to effectively remove salt and impurities from a vehicle; and providing a salt removal spray device which is inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy and durable in use, and which eliminates difficulties heretofore encountered, achieves the objectives indicated, and solves problems and satisfies needs existing in the art;

with a vehicle to be sprayed; the conduits being suffciently spaced whereby the outer conduits are located along .the outer sides of the vehicle and the inner conduit is located between the vehicle wheels; header pipe means connected to the conduits; water supply line means connected at one end to the header pipe'mea ns and the other end being adapted for connection to supply of water; the conduits each being formed with a plurality of water spray holes in the upper, portions thereof; the axes of-a first plurality of the inner'conduit spray holes being formed-generally perpendicular to the supporting surface and the axes of a second plurality of the inner conduit spray holes being formed at various acute angles with respect to the supporting surface whereby streams of water spra'yed'from the first and second plurality of holes strike the underside of the vehicle at various angles and locations; and the axes of the outer conduit spray holes being formed at acute angles with respect to the supporting surface whereby streams of water sprayed from these holes project toward and strike the sides of the vehicle at various heights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING ticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in theappended claims. r

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic rear elevation of a vehicle being sprayed by the salt removal spray device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the salt re-- movalspray device;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4, FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a section of an inner spray conduit showing the spacing of the spray openings; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view ofa section of an outer spray conduit showing the spacing of the spray openings.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The novel salt removal spray device is indicated at 1 (FIG. 2) and is shown removing salt and other impurities from a vehicle 2 (FIG. I).

Spraydevice 1 includes a plurality of spaced parallel conduits 3-7 which extend generally perpendicular from a water header pipe or manifold 8. A water supply line 9 connects header pipe 8 to a water supply, such as a usual water faucet located within the vehicle owners garage.

Conduits 3-7 preferably are sections of flexible plastic or rubber hose of a variety usually used for lawn, garden and household purposes. The extended ends of conduits 3-7 are closed by plugs 10, or may be molded in closed position.

Outer conduits 3 and 7 are connected to header pipe 8 by elbows 11 and 12, and by hose connection adapters I3 and 14, respectively. Inner conduits 4 and 6 are connected to header pipe 8 by tees l5 and 16, and by hose connection adapter 17 and 18, respectively. Middle conduit 5 is connected to header pipe 8 by a fourway junction connector 19 and 'an'adapter 20. Supply line 9 is connected to conductor 19 by an adapter 21.

Header pipe 8 is formed by a plurality of conduit sections 22-25, with section 22 extending between elbow II and tee 15, section 23 extending between tee I5 and junction connector 19, section 24 extending between junction connector 19 and tee I6, and section 25 extending between tee I6 and elbow l2.

Header pipe 8 may be formed as a single unit with conduits 3-7 and supply line 9 permanently attached thereto, without departing from the concept of the invention or without effecting the operation of spraydevice l. Conduits 3-7, supply line 9 and header pipe 8 perferably are separate and readily detachable components as shown, to permit easy assembly, storage and repair of spray device I.

Outer conduits 3 and 7 are similar (FIGS. 4 and 6) having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape with a flat bottom wall 26, side walls 27 and 28, and a flat top wall 29 forming a main water passage 29a. Partition walls 30 and 31 divide conduits 3 and 7into subpassages 32, 33 and 34. A plurality of holes 35, 36 and 37 are formed in top wall 29 and communicate with passages 32, 33 and 34, respectively, and are spaced longitudinallyalong the length of conduits 3 and 7, as

shown in FIG. 6.

In accordance with the invention, holes 35, 36 and 37 are formed at various angles in top wall 29 so that the streams of water sprayed from holes 35, 36 and 37 follow generally the paths ofthe spray'hole axes, indicated at 38, 39 and 40, respectively, (FIGS. 1 and 4). Holes 35, 36 and 37 preferably are formed at angles of 45, 60 and respectively, with respect to top wall 29 with the angle sizes increasing in a direction away from the vehicle. The size of the hole angles normally determines the spacing of outer conduits 3 and 7 from vehicle 2, so that the sprays from the holes all strike the vehicle sides.

Inner conduits 4 and 6, and middle conduit 5 are identical to each other (FIGS. 3 and 5) and are similar to outer conduits 3 and 7 except for the angles at which the spray exit holes are formed in the top wall 41. Conduits 4, 5 and 6 each includes a bottom wall 42, side walls 43 and 44,. and partition walls 45 and 46 which together with top wall 41 from subpassages 47, 48 and 49.

In accordance with the invention, spray holes 50, 51 and 52 are formed in top wall 41 and communicate with passages 49, 48 and 47, respectively, (FIG. 3). Holes 50 and 52 are formed at 45 angles with respect to top wall 41 and in opposite directions at with respect to each other. Center hole 51 is formed perpendicularly at a 90 angle with respect to top wall 41 so that the spray existing therefrom sprays upwardly in a vertical path. The axes of holes 50, 51 and 52 are indicated at 53, 54 and 55, respectively.

Holes 35-37 and 50-52 are spaced diagonally repeatedly across top walls 29 and 41, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 5 forming a repeating series of spray openings for spraying water on vehicle 2 to remove the salt therefrom. Holes 35-37 in conduits 3 and 7, preferably have a smaller diagonal spacing than the diagonal spacing between holes 50-52 in conduits 4, 5 and 6.

The particular cross-sectional shape and construction ofindividual conduits 3-7, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, are not novel, per se, except for the particular formation of spray holes 35-37 and 50-52. Hose having a plurality of randomly spaced holes in the top and side walls is currently used for many lawn and garden watering purposes. Bottom walls 26 and 42 preferably are flat so that conduits 3-7 will assume a position when placed on a garage floor or the like, so that the streams of water exiting from the conduit top wall spray holes will leave at the specified angles with respect to the garage floor.

Top walls 29 and 41, likewise, need not be flat and parallel with bottom walls 26 and 42, so long the streams of water exiting from the. holes formed therein, leave at the approximate specified angles with respect to the garage floor.

The location of conduits 3-7 with respect to a vehicle being sprayed, and the direction and departure angles of the streams of water with respectto the surface upon which a vehicle is parked are main features of salt removal spray device 1.

The spacing of conduits 3-7 is such that conduits 4, 5 and 6 extend longitudinally beneath vehicle 2 and are located between the front and rear wheels (FIGS. 1 and 2). Conduits 3 and 7 extend longitudinally along vchi cle 2 and are spaced a sufficient distance therefrom that the spray streams form a proper spray pattern on the sides of vehicle 2.

In operation, spray device I is placed on a garage floor with header pipe 8 located toward the rear of the garage and with conduits 3-7 extending to the front of the garage. Supply line 9 is connected to a usual water faucet, preferably located within the garage. Vehicle 2 is driven into the garage in the usual manner so that vepipe 8 and 4 and 6 so that the streams of water from conduits 3 and 7 are not blocked by the laterally outwardly projecting vehicle fenders or the like,

The water supply faucet is turned on for a period of approximately three or four minutes. The streams of water emitting from conduits 4, 5 and 6 completely wash the vehicle undercarriage, inside the fenders, the exposed vehicle frame members, wheels, etc. The interaction and overlapping of the streams due to their exit angles from conduits 4, Sand 6 reach all areas on the underside portion of the vehicle where salt or other harmful material may collect.

The streams of water from outer conduits 3 and 7 completely cover the vehicle sides, trunk area, hood area and fenders due to the formation of a pluralityof spray openings at various angles in conduits'3 and 7.

The differential angles of openings 35, 36 and 37 direct the streams of water against the vehicle at various heights. As is shown in FIG. 1, outermost stream 59 strikes the top corner of vehicle 2, stream 60 strikes the window area of vehicle 2, and stream 61 strikes the lower door or rocker panel area of vehicle 2;

The water flowing downwardly along vehicle 2 forms a-salt solution with the'salt deposited thereon,'which solution drains off the vehicle, freeing the vehicle of'the harmful salt. g i

A test performed on a vehicle covered with a'film of salt showed spray device 1 to be highly effective in removing a high percentage of the corrosive salt in a relatively short period of time,

An automobile was sprayed repeatedly with a saturated salt solution containing approximately 30.9 percent salt and allowed to dry until the vehicle was covered with a heavy coating of salt making it chalk-like in appearance. Sprayer device 1 was turned on for three minutes, at the end of which time a sample of the water draining from the sides andunderneath portion of the vehicle was collected. Similar samples were taken at the end of four and five minutes of spraying.

. The samples, when analyzed, indicated that the 30.9

percent salt solution had been reduced to a 1.15 percent salt solution after three minutes, and further reduced to 0.17 percent and 0.13 percent salt solutions after four and'five minutes, respectively.

Holes 35 and 37 in conduits 3 and 7 were not emittin'g streams of water in performing the above test, thus reducing the amount of water sprayed on the vehicle. The test indicated that spray device 1 even with a reduced flow of water, greatly reduced the amount of corrosive salton the vehicle in a shortperiod of time.

Thus, spray device 1 when used several times a week or even daily for several. minutes, would retard considerably the rusting and corrosive action of salt and other harmful deposits on a vehicle.

Once installed within a garage or the like, a person need. only turn a water supply faucet on for several minutes for spray device 1 to effectively reduce the quantity of corrosive salton the vehicle. The operator need not even be present during theoperation of spray device 1. If desired, a timer may be adapted to shut off the supply of water after the preselected spray time interval is completed.

Spray device 1 can be disassembled and stored easily during the summer when there is no need for such salt removal from vehicles. Spray device 1 can be reinstalled again during the winter months.

Preferably, spray device 1 is installed in garages having a floor drain for easy removal of the sprayed water, salt and road dirt. Likewise, in cold climate areas, the garage preferably is heated sufficiently to prevent freezing of the sprayed water on the vehicle and garage floor.

Accordingly, the new spray device provides a device for removing salt and harmful deposits from a vehicle in a short period of time in an inexpensive and extremely easy manner with a structure which is very simple to install and operate; and provides a device which eliminates difficulties existingin the art, and which achieves the stated objectives and solves problems that have existed in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are in tended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the struction shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in whichthe improved salt removal spray device is constructed, assem- I bled and operated, the characteristics of the new construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: g

1. A spray device for removing salt deposits from a stationary vehicle parked on a generally horizontal supporting surface including a pair of spaced parallel outer conduits and at least one inner conduit located inter-, mediate said outer conduits and parallel therewith; said conduits being adapted to rest on the horizontal vehicle supporting surface beneath and longitudinally aligned with a vehicle to be sprayed; the conduits being spaced apart sufficiently that the outer conduits are located along and beyond the outer sides'of the vehicle and the inner conduit is located intermediate the vehicle wheels; the conduits each having a closed end and an open end; header pipe means connected to the open ends of the conduits and extending transverse with respect thereto; water supply line means connected at one end to the header pipe means and the other end being adapted for connection to a supply of water; the

conduits being formed of flexible waterproof material for compact storage when not in use, each conduit having a plurality of water spray holes formed'in the upper portion and extending throughout the length thereof; a first plurality of the inner conduit spray holes being formed generally perpendicular to the supporting surface, and the axes of a second plurality of the inner conduit spray holes being formed at approximately 45 angles with respect to the supporting surface and at approximately a angle with respect to each other, whereby streams of water sprayed fromsaid first and,

second plurality of inner conduit spray holes strike the underside of the vehicle at various angles and locations; and the axes of said outer conduit spray holes being formed at acute angels between 45 and 70 with respect to the supporting surface; said outer conduit spray holes extending transversely in the upper portion with said angles increasing between 45 and 70 in the transverse direction away from the inner conduit, whereby streams of water sprayed from said holes project toward and strike the sides and top ofa vehicle at various heights and locatiohs to provide a uniform spray pattern of water on the sides and top of a vehicle.

2. The device defined in claim 1 in which three simiwalls forming water passageways.

4. The device defined in claim 3 in which'partition means are located within each of said conduit water passageways forming a plurality of subpassageways within each conduit; and in which said spray holes communicate with said subpassageways. 

1. A spray device for removing salt deposits from a stationary vehicle parked on a generally horizontal supporting surface including a pair of spaced parallel outer conduits and at least one inner cOnduit located intermediate said outer conduits and parallel therewith; said conduits being adapted to rest on the horizontal vehicle supporting surface beneath and longitudinally aligned with a vehicle to be sprayed; the conduits being spaced apart sufficiently that the outer conduits are located along and beyond the outer sides of the vehicle and the inner conduit is located intermediate the vehicle wheels; the conduits each having a closed end and an open end; header pipe means connected to the open ends of the conduits and extending transverse with respect thereto; water supply line means connected at one end to the header pipe means and the other end being adapted for connection to a supply of water; the conduits being formed of flexible waterproof material for compact storage when not in use, each conduit having a plurality of water spray holes formed in the upper portion and extending throughout the length thereof; a first plurality of the inner conduit spray holes being formed generally perpendicular to the supporting surface, and the axes of a second plurality of the inner conduit spray holes being formed at approximately 45* angles with respect to the supporting surface and at approximately a 90* angle with respect to each other, whereby streams of water sprayed from said first and second plurality of inner conduit spray holes strike the underside of the vehicle at various angles and locations; and the axes of said outer conduit spray holes being formed at acute angels between 45* and 70* with respect to the supporting surface; said outer conduit spray holes extending transversely in the upper portion with said angles increasing between 45* and 70* in the transverse direction away from the inner conduit, whereby streams of water sprayed from said holes project toward and strike the sides and top of a vehicle at various heights and locations to provide a uniform spray pattern of water on the sides and top of a vehicle.
 2. The device defined in claim 1 in which three similar parallel spaced inner conduits are connected to the header pipe means; and in which said three inner conduits are adapted to be located beneath and between the wheels of a vehicle to be sprayed.
 3. The device defined in claim 1 in which the outer and inner conduits are generally rectangular in shape having flat bottom walls, parallel side walls, and flat top walls forming water passageways.
 4. The device defined in claim 3 in which partition means are located within each of said conduit water passageways forming a plurality of subpassageways within each conduit; and in which said spray holes communicate with said subpassageways. 